Shatnerverse

[seigezunt]

I've never read any of the Shatnerverse novels. Are they any good?

The first one, "The Ashes of Eden," is one of my favorite Trek books. I used to buy the audio version of the books, turn off the lights and just listen to the story as Shatner told it. That's as close as I'm going to get to a new Classic Trek episode.

By the way, the only one I haven't gone all the way through is Collision Course. I just figured it'd be better to see how the movie handled things before finishing that book.

I had the same approach. Now I'm really disinclined to read it, seeing the reviews. It's one thing to have old Kirk being over the top, but Teen Kirk seems a bit much. I enjoyed the way Diane Carey handled it in Best Destiny.

 

[Elias Vaughn]

The Totality trilogy was very poor as it seemed very random with story points. The plot on Bajor in Captain's Peril was worthless and didn't, from what I remember, tie into the larger storyline at all. The flashback scenes, which did, were far more interesting and, I wish, could have been the focus.

I really enjoyed Collision Course. It wasn't anything what I was expecting, but that's okay. I enjoyed it nonetheless. It is a shame the follow up Trial Run won't be happening.

What? Why isn't it happening?

 

[SpaceLama]

I've never read any of the Shatnerverse novels. Are they any good?

They were entertaining, but have a tendancy to name-drop or fanwank.

Spoiler: Examples

- Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Scotty all get back together post-TNG.

- The Borg and Romulans form a military alliance (sigh).

 

[lstyer]

I listened to (the abridged version of) Ashes of Eden on audiobook, and actually read the next book or two. That was close to 10 years ago, I think, but I recall thinking they were fun.

 

[DarKush]

I've never read any of the Shatnerverse novels. Are they any good?

Ashes of Eden was the best Kirk story I've ever read. I also thought The Return was pretty good. Avenger was so-so, but I quit reading the series after Spectre. Didn't care for the Mirror Universe storyline, and strange enough, I thought the books were overdosing on Kirk by that point. Which I guess was the whole point all along.

I've been curious though about the latest novels and the Totality. I've never found a good description online about what the Totality is. Could someone enlighten me?

 

[Elias Vaughn]

I've been curious though about the latest novels and the Totality. I've never found a good description online about what the Totality is. Could someone enlighten me?

Spoiler: The Totality

The Totality is the Borg if the Borg were advanced beings made out of all the dark matter in the void between galaxies. When it discovered the existence of beings who live inside galaxies (regions inhospitable to The Totality, because gravity is their kryptonite), it decided to invite beings to join it. If you read the Borg analogy above, you see that this is a bad thing. The Galactic Barrier was meant to keep the galaxy safe from them, but as it weakened, the Totality found that it could use warp cores from starships as sort of wormholes into them. Kirk's son was, for some reason, the only way to recharge the barrier.

 

[DarKush]

Thanks Elias. I'm assuming you read the Totality arc. Is it worth reading?

 

[Man of Steel]

The Totality trilogy was very poor as it seemed very random with story points. The plot on Bajor in Captain's Peril was worthless and didn't, from what I remember, tie into the larger storyline at all. The flashback scenes, which did, were far more interesting and, I wish, could have been the focus.

I really enjoyed Collision Course. It wasn't anything what I was expecting, but that's okay. I enjoyed it nonetheless. It is a shame the follow up Trial Run won't be happening.

What? Why isn't it happening?

How can you write a book in a proposed trilogy and then not continue it? That's a bit unfair to people who buy it and never ever knowing how it will end..

Also a bit selfish on Pocket's part to in my opinion.

 

[Elias Vaughn]

Thanks Elias. I'm assuming you read the Totality arc. Is it worth reading?

It was... okay. It suffered from the same flaws most Shatnerverse books do (i.e., Kirk is God, TOS characters who aren't Spock are his disciples, everyone else is two steps from clinically retarded), but it's at least amusing.

Probably the weakest of his trilogies, though. It's been a while, but I remember liking his Mirror Universe/Preserver books more, and they were pretty bad too.

 

[Cap'n Crunch]

ignore this post.

 

[Therin of Andor]

How can you write a book in a proposed trilogy and then not continue it?

It wasn't a proposed trilogy.

In the past, IIRC, "Ashes of Eden" was a one-off novel that sold incredibly well, and then Shatner was signed to write two sequels. Then he was signed to a three-book contract. And then again.

However, "Collision Course" was another one-book contract, AFAIK, and further instalments are always reliant on good sales. Shatner has complained that the book wasn't well-promoted, but the reviews were also mixed. Obviously, Shatner hopes it will be a duology, or perhaps an ongoing "Academy" series. The fact that the "ad" for "Trial Run" wasn't removed from the MMPB reprint of "Collision Course" seems to indicate it might still happen, but Shatner won't be writing any ST books until he has signed a contract for them.

That's a bit unfair to people who buy it and never ever knowing how it will end.

We know how it ends. Kirk and Spock graduate successfully from Starfleet Academy.

Also a bit selfish on Pocket's part to in my opinion.

Pocket is being selfish for not proceeding with a proposed sequel to an unpopular ST novel????

 

[DarKush]

Thanks again Elias. You're posts have been most helpful.

 

[TenLubak]

I only read one Avenger. Picard is in full action hero mode it seems. Some TNG characters seem off. To me anyway. It was a fun read. But am i no hurry to read another.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

I've never read any of the Shatnerverse novels. Are they any good?

I they're, overall, pretty good.

ASHES OF EDEN, AVENGER and SPECTRE are easily the best, with THE RETURN and CAPTAIN'S PERIL close behind. IMO, the worst of this series is PRESERVER. The rest is OK. Haven't read COLLISION COURSE, though.

They're all recommended reading, IMO. If anything, they make up for the horrible excuse for a story that was GEN.

 

[Saul]

Pocket and Shatner, get your arses into gear on Trail Run!

 

[Broccoli]

The Totality trilogy was very poor as it seemed very random with story points. The plot on Bajor in Captain's Peril was worthless and didn't, from what I remember, tie into the larger storyline at all. The flashback scenes, which did, were far more interesting and, I wish, could have been the focus.

I really enjoyed Collision Course. It wasn't anything what I was expecting, but that's okay. I enjoyed it nonetheless. It is a shame the follow up Trial Run won't be happening.

What? Why isn't it happening?

While there is no "official" word on this, the combo of weaker sales and weaker reviews kinda did the book in. Besides, there was no cliffhanger in the story. It perfectly works as a standalone (though they do leave threads open to continue the story).

I suppose it is possible, but at this stage, unlikely.

 

[FordSVT]

I've never read any of the Shatnerverse novels. Are they any good?

They're well written, thanks to the Reeves-Stevenses. But aside from that... the first one is an interesting take on Kirk late in life. Most of the others are basically superhero comics about a reanimated Kirk running around in the 24th century. They can be fun at times, but they're just preposterously over the top. And so's the young Kirk novel Collision Course.

It reminds me of fan-wank to be honest. Well written fan-wank, and the fan in this case is Bill Shatner, but you're right it's so over the top. He's running around taking on Worf with a Batt'leth, beating Riker's and Data's brains in, taking out Romulans and assimilated Ham Sandwiches... it's like 400 pages of "Jim Kirk is the most formidable being that has ever existed, let us discuss the ways".

 

[Elias Vaughn]

I love it when he outsmarts current Starfleet officers in the operation of their own ships and computer systems.

It's like reading about an Amish guy from 1900 out-programming a computer science major.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

I love it when he outsmarts current Starfleet officers in the operation of their own ships and computer systems.

It's like reading about an Amish guy from 1900 out-programming a computer science major.

Not really, though...

 

[Elias Vaughn]

Well, given tech development curves, if anything, it'd be worse.